30 rescued from distressed vessel off Tawi-TawiSailors of the Western Mindanao Naval Command assist 30 passengers of a wooden-hulled vessel in distress off Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi on Jan. 16, 2026ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Thirty people were rescued after a motorized boat was battered by strong winds and big waves in the waters off Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi on Friday night. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Juan Magluyan was conducting maritime patrol at around 9:30 p.m. when they spotted the distress signals from the motorlaunch Nurdia, according to Rear Adm. Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Naval Command. The Navy said the Nurdia had 30 people on board including five crewmembers who were all transferred to the Magluyan. The passengers and the crewmembers were brought to the port of Taganak where they were given medical attention and food. Reyes said the arrival of the Magluyan prevented the Nurdia from drifting toward the waters off Sabah.

Source: Philippine Star January 17, 2026 16:34 UTC